Loss of face for BJP, BSY in Shimoga

The ruling BJP faced a humiliating defeat in elections to eight urban local bodies, including three City Municipal Councils in the district (Shimoga, Sagar and Bhadravathi).

Of the eight ULBs, it has managed to retain power only in Teerthahalli Town Panchayat.
B S Yeddyurappa, who quit BJP late last year and floated Karnataka Janata Party, seems to have played spoilsport for the ruling party in Shimoga City Municipal Council.

Yeddyurappa has accomplished what he had desired by keeping BJP out of power in seven ULBs in the district. Shimoga City Municipal Council, Sorab Town Panchayat and Shiralakoppa Town Panchayat have seen a hung verdict. However, the Congress is likely to head these local bodies by joining hands with either JD(S) or independents. JD(S) has put up an impressive show by bagging two local bodies - Hosanagar TP and Bhadravathi CMC.

BSR Congress has managed to win one seat in Shiralakoppa TP. Though Congress has managed to win only Sagar CMC, it has turned out to be the single largest party in Shimoga CMC. It’s obvious that Congress has benefited from the duel between BJP and KJP in most of the ULBs in the district.

As expected, KJP has come to power in Shikaripur TP. Undoubtedly, Deputy Chief Minister K S Eshwarappa, who is also Shimoga City MLA, is embarrassed by the results. BJP has to chalk out new strategies to face the stiff competition from KJP and Congress in the forthcoming Assembly polls.   

The break-up

* Shimoga CMC: Of the 35 seats, Congress - 12, BJP - 8, KJP - 7, JD(S) - 5, Independents - 2 and SDPI - 1.

* Bhadravathi CMC - Of the 35 seats, JD(S) - 23, Congress - 6, Independents - 3, KJP - 2 BJP - 1.

* Sagar CMC - Of the 31 seats, Congress - 24, BJP - 4, KJP - 1, JD(S) - 1 and Independent - 1

* Shikaripur TMC - Of the 23 seats, KJP - 15, Congress - 7 and Independent - 1

* Hosanagar Town Panchayat - Of the 11 seats, JD(S) - 6 and Congress - 5

* Shiralakoppa TP - Of the 15 seats, Congress - 5, KJP - 5,JD(S) - 1,BSR Congress - 1 and independents - 3

* Sorab TP - Of the 11 seats, JD(S) - 3, Congress - 3, KJP - 3 and independents - 2

* Teerthahalli TP - Of the 15 seats, BJP-11, Congress - 2, KJP - 1 and JD(S)- 1

In Davangere  

The Congress has secured a majority in the Davangere Corporation, while it is a split mandate in the Harihar CMC and Harapanahalli TMC.

The Congress has wrested power in the Jagalur and Channagiri Town Panchayats. The BJP got a clear majority only in the Honnali TP.

Of the 41 wards in Davangere Corporation, 36 went to the Congress, three to independents and one each to BJP and CPI.

The break-up

* Davangere Corporation (41 wards): Congress - 36, BJP - 1, CPI - 1, Independents - 3

* Harihar CMC (31 wards): Congress - 13, JD(S) - 10, KJP - 4, Independent - 3, BJP - 1

* Harapanahalli TMC (27 wards): BJP - 10, Congress - 7, BSR Congress - 6, Independents - 2, KJP - 1 and JD(S) - 1

* Jagalur TP (15 wards): Congress - 11, JD(S) - 2, Independent - 1, BJP - 1

* Channagiri TP (19 wards): Congress - 13, Independents - 1, JD(S) - 2, KJP - 3
Honnali TP (16 wards): BJP - 10, Independent - 1, Congress - 5

In Chitradurga

No party gets a clear majority in the ULBs of the district, including in the Chitradurga CMC, Challakere and Hiriyur TMCs, Holalkere and Molakalmur TPs. JD(S), Independents and BSR candidates hold the key in many ULBs. Congress gets a clear mandate only in Hosadurga TMC.

The break-up    
       
* In the 35-ward Chitradurga CMC, JD(S) gets 16, Congress - 7, KJP - 2, BSR Congress - 4 and Independents - 6

* Challakere TMC (27 wards): BJP - 1, Congress - 9, JD(S) - 8. KJP - 6, Independents - 3

* Hiriyur TMC (27 wards): Congress - 8, JD(S) - 5, Independents - 11, BSR Congress - 3

* Hosadurga TMC (23 wards): Congress - 12,  KJP - 1, BSR Congress - 1,  Independents - 9

* Holalkere TP (15 wards): BJP - 2, Congress - 7,KJP- 5, Independent - 1

* Molakalmur TP (15 wards): BJP - 1, Congress - 6, JD(S) - 1, BSR Congress - 5 and Independents - 2